A NEWLY implemented Premier League rule could be the reason behind Alexis Sanchez’s stalling move to Manchester United.

With Sky Sports reporting Chelsea are also in for Sanchez, it appears the Chilean’s Emirates exit hinges on Arsenal finding a suitable replacement.

United are hoping to secure Sanchez by offering up £25m in cash, plus outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of the deal, however the Armenian is in no rush to go the other way.

According to Chilean publication El Mercurio, Sanchez has already agreed terms with United, on a whopping £350,000 per week – more than £60,000 a week more than Manchester City were prepared to pay before they dropped out of the race. United will also pay a £25m sign on fee to Sanchez, plus £5m to his agent.

Yet Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola has told The Times that the entire deal hinges on his player moving in the other way as part of the Sanchez deal.

“Manchester United are not going to sign Sanchez unless Mkhi agrees to join Arsenal,” Raiola told the newspaper.

“Mkhi is going to do what is best for him. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract so it’s his decision. Sanchez is part of the Mkhi deal, not the other way around.”

According to Goal.com, Arsenal are at risk of being affected by the Premier League Short Term Cost Control rules, brought in at the start of the season. The rule prevents clubs from increasing their wage bill by more than £7m per season.

This is where things get tricky for Arsenal – who committed big off-season wages to new record signing Alexandre Lacazette and free transfer Sead Kolasinac while failing to get rid of deadwood in their squad.

The Mirror reports Mkhitaryan wants a payrise on his £150,000 a week deal at United, plus Raiola wants a £5m agents commission to complete the deal PLUS a payout from United in the process. The Daily Mail reports Mkhitaryan is on an even more eye-watering £180,000 a week.

That means the Armenian would earn significantly more than the £130,000 Sanchez is earning in the final months of his Arsenal contract.

Add in Arsenal’s reported interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bordeaux’s Malcom and the club would be forced to sell move players to keep their books balanced.

Manchester United willing to make Alexis Sanchez the fourth best paid player in the world after Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. Would you pay it?

Already, Francis Coquelin has departed, while Theo Walcott is set for an Everton medical, taking a combined £160,000 a week off the wage bill. Mathieu Debuchy is also in talks with St Etienne to leave in January.

Meanwhile, The Guardian and The BBC have reported there has been no contact between Mkhitaryan and Arsenal, with the player “deliberating over the move and in no rush to make a final decision.”

No agreement in place or close for Mkhitaryan to join Arsenal from Man Utd in Sanchez swap. He holds key & still mulling over #AFC / other clubs / staying #MUFC - if agrees to Arsenal, can happen quickly. Doesn’t see eye to eye with Mourinho but not desperate to go at all costs pic.twitter.com/n95zzQzYdg